Getting into Ivy League

Graduating in about 1.5 years with a likely German Abitur of 1.0–1.3 (equivalent to a 3.7–4.0 GPA). Currently studying at an “academy for highly gifted students” (not sure it makes me sound cocky or increases my chances). My goal is a career in IB or PE. I’m already working on building my profile through networking, internships, certificates, courses, and developing Excel and financial modeling skills. I’m also volunteering to strengthen my application for top universities and to make meaningful connections on LinkedIn.

A few questions:

  1. Am I early or late with my preparation?

  2. What are the most critical steps to increase my chances of getting into Ivy League universities (my current top priority)?

  3. How much time and effort should I dedicate to networking at 17?

I’d appreciate any tips, insights, or experiences from others in a similar position!

1 Comments
 

Vitae ipsum aut recusandae. Voluptate voluptas quod sit dolorem.

Eaque laboriosam fugiat vel quas omnis. Dicta eveniet quibusdam accusamus fuga magni tenetur. Ut omnis unde totam reprehenderit aut eligendi eius omnis. Itaque est qui consequatur omnis itaque assumenda id minus.

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.9%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”